Automobile-lock.



J. 'EuCUNNlNGHAM'. AUTOMOBILE LOCK. APPLICATION F lLED IUflE 5. 19m

1357,3532. I I Patented Feb. 26,1918.

JAMES E. CUNNINGHAM, OF \VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMOBILE-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 19.1.8.

Application'filed June 5, 1917. Serial No. 178,031.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JAMES E. CUNNING- RAM; a citizen of the United States, residing at ,WOrcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts; have invented a new and useful Automobile-Lock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to 'a device for [locking automobiles to prevent their be- "ing started and operated by unauthorized persons.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide means whereby a locking bolt for engaging the steering wheel can be secured in its locking position and. locked there in a simple and convenient way; means whereby the locking mechanism for the bolt can be secured to the steering col umn and its removal or displacement effectually prevented; and to provide improvements in details of the same. 7

Reference is to be had to the accompanyin drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a. side View of the steering column of an automobile with a preferred form of this invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is asectional view of the column and lock on enlarged scale on the line 2-2 of Fig- 1;

.Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3'3 ofFigl;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation looking Hi t-he direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5'is a rear elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 1.

The invention is shown as applied to a steering column 10 which carries a steering wheel 11 connected with a steering shaft as usual. On this column is mounted a lock casing 12 shown ashavingtwo semi-circular supporting members 13having radial end flanges at the ends. These with a pair of semi-circular rings 14 constitute complete clamps surrounding the column 10 by which the lock casing is secured to this column.

These members 13 and 14 are secured togetherby means of bolts 15 and clamped in position by nuts 16 as will be obvious. One

, of the difiiculties encountered with thisclass of locks is the fact that it isextremely difficult to provide any way to clamp the parts on the column without leaving it so that they can 'be loosened ina. comparatively easy manner. This difliculty is avoided in this invention by the use of two stiif sheet metal plates 11. ofithe'se-has a. portion 18 coming under the heads of the two bolts and extending around the ends of the two radial flanges of the members 13 and 14. At the edges they terminate in inwardly extending flanges 19 which are perforated to pass over the bolts anch receive them in the perform tions. Then the bolts 15 project some distance through the perforations and the nuts are put on outside of the flanges 19 so as to secure these flanges down on the oppositely projecting flanges of the members 13. The two members 17 are provided with alined alternate passages through which a casing locking bolt 20 is adapted to pass. This bolt is bent up at one end as at 21 and the other end is provided with a perforation for the hasp of a padlock 22 so that these parts can be locked together by means of this padlock.

In connection with this part of the inven-' tion it is to be understood that in assembling, the bolts 15 are first placed in position. Then the members 17 are passed over the project-ing ends of the bolts so thatthe bolts project through the perforations therein. Then they can be swung inwardly toward each other to engage over the heads of the" bolts as shown in Fig. 2. After this is accomplished the bolt 20 is placed in position and locked. Then the nuts 16 are applied. WVhcn the parts are in this position of course the nuts 16 can be removed very readily, but the casings 17 are sufiiciently stifi so that it is impossible to bend up the flanges 19 and thus remove-these casingsfrom the bolts. Furthermore, on account of the shape and location of the surfaces 18 it is impossible to force the bolts back.

The lock casing 12 is of very simple con struction. It is spaced slightly from the steering column between the two members 13 which are integral with it. It has a passage shown as extending all the way through it for the wheel locking bolt 23, and it also has a slot 24 for the locking boltis manipulated. This bolt itself is provided With a. lock 26 and the eashandle 25 by whichthe ing has-two openings 27 and 28 through one i side so as to provide access for a key to this locking both-when the bolt is in its locking position. and in its idle position. Thus the bolt can be locked in either place and its vibration prevented. The belt of the lock 26 preferably passes into the base of the casing 12 toward the column where 'it cannot be tampered with.

"th easmgto'the column, a P l metal Inthis way,"i t will be samba the main locking bolt 93 "can be secured in either of With'a goodstifl' bolt;

its extreme positionathat its'bi furcated end is adapted to engageythe spoke of thesteer? mg, W eel and securely hold it in position, and that this part of the device is simple and can be made as smallas is consistent is not" bulky and does necessary room. f

"Although I have illustratedand described onlyga singlejorm of the-invention, I am awe-reef the fact that modifications can be i made-therein by any. person skilled in-the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not' wish to belimited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but What I do claim is 1. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a casing, a bolt carried locking it, said casing having a painof sup-' portingmembers adapted to fit against the a steering column, a pair of members adapted thereby for engaging a steering Wheel and looking it in position, means for locking .saidbolt in position, said casing having a 3 i through said slot for operating the bolt,

slot therethroug h, a ,handle extending said casing-having a pair of. semi-circular supporting members adapted to fi't "against the steering column, a pair of semi-circular members adapted toregister therewith, bolts for-securing said members together'to clamp the casing around the column, two members for preventing-the displacement of the last named bolts, and means separate from the bolt for holding said members in position,

2. In a device of the character descrlbeth the combination of a casing, a bolt carried thereby' for engaging a steering heel and.

to register therewith,,bolts for securing said r'nembers together to clamp the casing around the column, and a pair 01' pivotally j i'ng the displacement of the last named ,connected casings for engaging and preventbolts.

3 In an automobile lock, the combination hof a lock casing, a bolt therein for engaging 3a steering .Wheel and locking 1t iii-position,

said casing having a pair of semi-circular If fs'upporting members adapted to fit against {the steering column, a pair of semi-circular ,members adapted; to register therewith,bolts fonsecuring said members together to clamp casin sxada'pted to engage the outer ends of said olts, and means for locking said cas In other words, it not take up any an the combination of a'lock' and, having surfaces 'for 111 11 \elll displacement there steering Wheel of an automobilefsa V a Z, 11 ings Lint positibxtto the bolts- 4. a device o f she p ar acter described, the ombmaaan"braid" {for locking the; steermg Wheel of an automobile having a. pair of members extending therefrom havitriveht diiplabement of ing opposite radial flanges,

of members cooperating with them to constltute clamps .to clamp said lock to the steering column, bolts pas sinfitl ggugka as; a, we er flanges for securing members pivotally conned f t v having surfaceslfor limitin" gsltlons of said bolts antl 33.- a posite flanges havin'gipe (Bra fa ed to receivethe bolts "ontlieffot f":

prevent displacement thereof 5. In a devlce'of 'tbe ch steering Wheel of an automobile? having a pair of members exten from of a general senii'fcii having opposite radial flanges, of members of similans ape with them to constitute said l'ocktoythe steering f v ing through said" flanges for s together on the steering col of sheetmetal member E99,,

cured together at a poi positions of said" bolts 01," end flanges having per on receive the bolts on the th r s 6. In a device of the c rdesc the '(lOl'llblllfltlOIl of a lock for clq having a pair of members eirt endihg t e i from having opposite radial other pair of membershavin similar flanges, bolts pas 'n'g u 1 flanges for securing the e la its 

